Label: Qwest / Wea
Jazz
This Miles Davis tribute album brings back four-fifths of his second classic quintet with Wallace Roney the logical choice to fill in for the late trumpeter. Roney comes across as a sideman and is not as forceful here as one would have hoped. Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and Tony Williams had all grown with time and this reunion has Hancock and Williams taking on more prominent leadership roles than in the earlier days. With the exception of the drummer's "Elegy," all of the music "("So What," "RJ," "Little One," "Pinocchio," "Eighty One" and "All Blues") was regularly performed by the quintet back in the '60s. In general this reunion is a success even if it contains no new revelations. It is particularly nice to hear Wayne Shorter in this setting again.
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Herbert Jeffrey Hancock, 12 April 1940, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Growing up in a musical household, Hancock studied piano from the age of seven and gave his first public performance just two years later. Although he played classical music at his debut Hancock's interest lay mostly in jazz. During high school and college he played in semi-professional bands and on occasion accompanied visiting jazzmen, including Donald Byrd. It was with Byrd that Hancock first played in New York, in 1961, recording with him and as leader of his own small group. Among the tunes on Hancock's debut for the Blue Note Records label was "Watermelon Man", an original composition that appealed to more than the usual jazz audience. A version of the song, by Mongo Santamaría, reached the US Top 10 in 1963.
By Scott Yanow. AMG.
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In 1986 Hancock played and acted in the movie 'Round Midnight. He also wrote the score, for which he won an Academy Award. Subsequently, he became more active in jazz, touring with Williams, Ron Carter, Michael Brecker and others. In 1994, he teamed up with Carter, Williams, Wayne Shorter, and Wallace Roney to record a tribute album to Miles Davis, who had died three years previously.
***A Tribute To Miles won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual Or Group.***
In marked contrast, the same year's Dis Is Da Drum (Hancock's first for the Mercury Records group) steered towards acid jazz. The New Standard (1995) was an interesting concept album. On this Hancock gave interpretations of songs by rock singer-songwriters such as Peter Gabriel, Don Henley, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Prince and lo and behold, Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. An excellent collaboration with Wayne Shorter in 1997 featured both musicians performing without accompaniment. Hancock's late 90s tribute to George Gershwin was another excellent recording, with guest apperances from Shorter, Stevie Wonder, and Joni Mitchell. The album won Hancock his seventh Grammy Award.
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Wayne Shorter- Alto sax, Tenor sax
Wallace Roney- Trumpet
Herbie Hancock- Piano
Ron Carter- Bass
Tony Williams- Drums
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01. So What 10:19
02. RJ 4:07
03. Little One 7:20
04. Pinocchio 5:44
05. Elegy 8:42
06. Eighty One 7:31
07. All Blues 15:15
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